About

About Me

A good way to find out A LOT about me, probably more than you need to know, is to go to this article in the Brown Alumni Monthly. It’s kind of an encyclopedia of Deborah. I really love this article!

Here’s a short version of ME

Personal

My first dog, Missy, and me

I was born and raised in Allentown, PA, the only child of my parents’ marriage, but I had a sister and a brother from my mother’s first marriage. That means they are my half-siblings, but I never think of them as anything but my whole siblings. I became an aunt when I was five-years-old, so my five nieces were like my little sisters.

My father was a wonderful doctor who made house calls and didn’t make a lot of money. Everyone loved him. My mother worked a little here and there, but mostly was my (great) mom. Everyone loved her, too. I found out after she died that she wanted to be a writer! I wish she had followed her dream.

Jon and Ketzie

I always loved to read and write. I loved school. I really did. I was good in all my subjects until high school when I started thinking I wasn’t good at math or science. Looking back, I realize I was better at both than I knew.

I went to Brown University, and graduated in 1980 with a degree in religious studies. Two weeks after graduation I met the man who became my husband, Jonathan Weiner. He is a writer and a professor. And he’s also good at relaxing.

Aaron and Benjamin

We have two sons, Aaron and Benjamin. They are the best sons in the world and two of my favorite people in the universe. We all lived in Bucks County, PA, for many years, with our dog Tinka and three cats—Pandora, Chaos, and Peanut Butter.

Since 2005 we have lived in New York City. We love it here. We have no cats, but we do have a new dog (she’s new to us, we got her in July, 2012, but she’s about four-years old). Her name is Ketzie. She is a Cairn Terrier, like Toto in The Wizard of Oz. And that’s her, above, with my husband.

Professional
I write books for kids and teens. Many adults read my books, too. I got my start in writing at Moment Magazine in Boston. But I learned how to write for children at Scholastic News in New York. I’ve published 28 books so far, including my new one, INTENTIONS.

I have three more books coming out (two in 2013; one I still have to write!) For a full list of my books, go here.

Miscellaneous facts about me
*I love to sing, but I’m not good at it. I also love to listen to music. For my INTENTIONS play list, go here.*I enjoy water-coloring, also not good at that! Here’s one of my attempts. Can you tell that I’m working on a book about Vincent Van Gogh? Can you also tell why I don’t illustrate my picture books?
*I love my family. I adore my friends. Nothing makes me happier than being with people I love. Taking a long walk with my husband or a close friend is at the top of my list of favorite things to do.
*Most days I love being a writer.
*I scream pretty much at the drop of a hat.
*I wish I could have twice as many hours in the day so I could read for eight hours a day and laugh for eight hours every day.
*I love to cook and I love to eat.
*I am an inveterate people-watcher. Living in NYC is a dream come true for that reason alone.